Associated British Picture Corporation

French Dressing Poster- lady in a red bikini standing in front of a cartoon beach scene, the faces of two men float behind her. French Dressing is written over the top

French Dressing Poster © Warner-Pathé Distributors

Director: Ken Russell
Starring: James Booth, Roy Kinnear, Marisa Mell
Production Company: Associated British Picture Corporation, Kenneth Harper Production
Kent Locations Used: Herne Bay, Kings Hall, Medway Queen Paddle Steamer

French Dressing (1964) is a comedy film set in the fictional seaside town of Gormleigh-on-Sea about a deckchair attendant, Jim Stephens (James Booth) who is deputised to organise a film festival. After finally convincing French movie star pin-up Françoise Fayol (Marisa Mell) to attend, a series of unplanned mishaps threatens the festival’s success.

The directorial debut of Ken Russell (The Devils, Altered States), French Dressing stars James Booth (Zulu, Airport ’77), Roy Kinnear (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Watership Down) and Marisa Mell (Danger: Diabolik, Under Siege).

French Dressing Screenshot on Herne Bay beach © Warner-Pathé Distributors	French Dressing Screenshot at Herne Bay © Warner-Pathé Distributors
French Dressing Screenshot at Kings Hall © Warner-Pathé Distributors	French Dressing Screenshot at Herne Bay seafront © Warner-Pathé Distributors

The film was almost entirely filmed in Herne Bay which doubles as Gormleigh-on-Sea and the Kings Hall doubles as the Council Offices. The Medway Queen Paddle Steamer is used in the scenes when Jim Stephens (James Booth) and Henry Liggott (Roy Kinnear) take the boat to France.

Herne Bay is a traditional seaside town offering two miles of splendid coast including a delightful beach with colourful beach huts, bandstand and seafront gardens as well as many shops and eateries and amusement arcades. Herne Bay has been used as a film location on projects such as Boomers (2014), Big Bad World (2013) and Things I Haven’t Told You (2008).

French Dressing (1964) was released on Friday 10th April 1964 and is now available on DVD.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

Illustrated image of a US movie poster. The top half of the image is a harbour and the ocean at night. On the top right is a black-and-white image of Simone Siman looking mischievously over her shoulder. On the bottom left is an image of a man violently grabbing hold of a woman’s arms. On the bottom right is an image of a man in a trench coat and bowler hat pinning another man to the floor. In the middle in orange text is written Temptation Harbor.

Temptation Harbour (1947) © ABPC

Director: Lance Comfort
Starring: Robert Newton, William Hartnell, Simone Simon, Marcel Dalio
Production Company: Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)
Kent Locations Used: Folkestone Harbour, St Margaret’s Bay

Temptation Harbour (1947) is a British crime drama film following a signalman who witnesses a murder and, upon finding the dead man’s suitcase which contains £5,000, is torn between right and wrong whilst being hunted by the killer and the police.

Directed by Lance Comfort (Escape to Danger, Pit of Darkness), the film stars Robert Newton (Around the World in 80 Days, Jamaica Inn) as Bert Mallison, William Hartnell (Doctor Who – The Dalek Invasion of Earth (1964), Carry On Sergeant) as Jim Brown, Simone Simon (Cat People, La Bête Humaine) as Camelia and Marcel Dalio (Sabrina, The Rules of the Game) as Inspector Dupree.

The film is set at a harbourside train station called Newhaven Harbour; these scenes were filmed at Folkestone Harbour. Locations featured include the signal box (which has recently been restored and now houses a café), the old Folkestone Harbour train station and the arches along The Stade. Filming also took place on St Margaret’s Bay in Dover, which is the location of Bert Mallison’s shed where he traps the murderer.

Formerly a ferry port connecting the town to various destinations in France and Belgium, Folkestone Harbour Arm and the now non-operational train station have been recently restored and is now home to a growing collection of vibrant independent businesses. Other productions to have filmed there include Moon and Son (1992), I Want You (1998) and The Darling Buds of May (1991-1993).

St Margaret’s Bay is a small shingle beach bay backed by the famous white chalk cliffs of Dover. It is a popular filming location, having played host to a variety of productions including Poirot – The Kidnapped Prime Minister (1990), Missing (2009-2010) and Rogue Agent (2022).

Temptation Harbour (1947) was released in UK cinemas on Thursday 27^th February 1947 and is currently available to stream on BFI Player.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

Kent's Premier Film Commission